Kim, Otteson share Duramed Championship Lead with -7

Personal Best For Both Is One off Kings Island Course Record

MASON, OH (June 20, 2008) – A pair of second year pros, 18-year old Mindy Kim, and 24-year old Stephanie Otteson, shot their best rounds as professionals today, both with a 7-under 64 to finish as co-leaders after the first round of the $110,000 Duramed Championship, being played this weekend at the Golf Center at Kings Island.

Kim, who already has won back-to-back, wire-to-wire titles this year on the Duramed FUTURES Tour, shot six birdies on the front nine to make the turn at five-under 31, and at one time had six birdies in a row before shooting par on the final three holes of this par 71 course. Otteson did nearly the opposite, closing with a 31 on the back nine, spoiled only by a bogey on her next to last hole.

“I just hit good approach shots to the green and gave myself great opportunities,” said Kim. “I caught some good breaks and holed one from the bunker.”

“I won’t do anything differently for the second round,” said Otteson, who credited hard work on her putting for her low score. “It’ll be nice to have my name known, to have people recognize who Stephanie Otteson is, I’m going to go out with the same game plan.”

Both players just missed tying the women’s course record of eight under 63, set in 198 by LPGA legend Patty Sheehan in the LPGA Championship. Kim comes into Mason third on the Tour money list, with the top five at the end of the season automatically earning their full card to the LPGA. Otteson’s best finish so far this season is a tie for 12th last week at the Michelob ULTRA Duramed FUTURES Players Championship.

In third, just two shots back, is Jenny Gleason after a round of five uner 66. In fourth is a pack tied at minus four, including Kim Welch, Jessica Shepley, Sophia Sheridan and Song Yi Choi.

The Duramed Championship continues Saturday at the Golf Center at Kings Island, with the field cut to half for Sunday’s round. The winner of the Duramed Championship earns $15,400 and the runner-up, $11,000.